Check-punch.



No. 713,323. Patented No v. ll, I902.

a. m. MERRITT. CHECK PUNCH.

(Application filed Oct. 29, 1901.:

(R0 Mo del.)

INVENTOR WITNESSES: I

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

GEORGE M. MERRITT, OF NEWARK, NE /V JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO LOUISSOHLESINGER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

CHECK-PUNCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 713,323, dated November11, 1902.

Application filed October 29, 1901.. Serial No. 80,411. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it 77mg concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. MERRITT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Check-Punches; and I dohereby declare the following to be a fulLclear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to numerals of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

The objects of this invention are to provide a check-punch of simple andcheap construction, to obtain one which can be made at small cost andutilized as an advertising medium, and to secure other advantages andresults, some of which may be referred to hereinafter in connection withthe description of the working parts.

The invention consists in the improved check-punch and in thearrangements and combinations of parts of the same, all substantially aswill be hereinafter set forth,and finally embraced in the clauses of theclaim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals ofreference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures,Figure 1 is a plan of my improved checkpunch, and Fig. 2 is an enlargedportion of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view, and Fig. 4 is an enlargedcross-section on line a), Fig. 2.

In said drawings, 2 indicates the body portion of my improvedcheck-punch, comprising a strip of suitable sheet metal, preferablyaluminium, and having one longitudinal edge portion 3 folded over uponitself. Upon said body portion is superposed or laid the jaw member 4 ofmy improved punch, also comprising a strip of sheet metal and having onelongitudinal edge slipped beneath the folded edge part 3 of the bodyportion and held in place by rivets 5 passed through the threethicknesses of metal. The other edge of the jaw member 4c is left free,so that a check can be inserted between the two members, and tofacilitate such placing of a check in position the jaw member andoverlapping edge of the body portion have a slight indent a check laidbetween.

offset or bend away from the main part of the body 2 along alongitudinal line adjacent to the line of riveting, as at 5. This offsetalso provides a stop to engage the edge of the inserted check anddetermine its position in the punch.

The central portion of the jaw member 4 is cut out, as at 7, to form arectangular opening, with a series of integral tongues 8 along itslongitudinal edge next the free edge of jaw member. These tongues 8preferably extend at their free ends tolie beneath the edge of thedoubled portion 3 of the body member, which thus serves to prevent theirupward or outward escape while permitting them to be pressed downflatwise against the body portion.

In each tongue is a series of perforations 9, outlining a numeral orcharacter of any other desired sort, and directly beneath on the bodyportion 2 is a similar series of studs or prints 19, adapted to enterthe perforations 9 and The said studs 10 are preferably stamped orpressed up from the sheet metal body 2 by suitable dies in the processof manufacture, and preferably said studs enter the perforationssomewhat loosely or without a shearing action, so as to produce anembossing effect on the paper of a check. While it is not the intent ofthe device to cut a hole in the check, still the points of the studs 10may push through the paper at the tops-of the embossings.

The tongues 8, which may be of any size desired, are preferablyseparated by open spaces 11, which expose the check or other paper atthe sides of any tongue being used, so that a proper linear spacing maybe readily secured by the eye.

The doubled edge of the body portion 2 may be slightly up-curved orbent, as at 14, to facilitate its use as a ruler, and preferablygraduations of Iengthmeasure or other matter commonly formed on rulersare marked on the upper side of said doubled-edge portion. The oppositeor free single edge 13 of the body portion is carried outward beyond thecorresponding edge of the jaw member, not only to render more easy aninsertion of a check edgewise between said parts, but also to provide aconvenient paper-cutter.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. In acheck-punch, a body portion presenting die members, and a resilientplate secured at one edge to said body portion and normally lying awayfrom said body portion, substantially parallel thereto, said plateproviding integral tongues whose bases are farthest from the saidsecured edge of the plate and whose free ends project toward saidsecured edge, said tongues presenting die members adapted to cooperatewith the die members on the body portion.

2. In a check-punch, a body portion presenting upward projections ormale die members, and a resilient plate secured at one edge to said bodyportion and normally lying away from the same substantially parallelthereto, and having integral tongues cut out of itself, said tongueshaving their bases farthest from the said secured edge of the plate andtheir free ends projecting toward said secured edge, and beingperforated to receive the die projections on the body portion andcooperate therewith.

3. A check-punch, comprising a body portion afiording male die membersor projections at its upper surface, a sheet-metal jaw member disposedfiatwise upon said body and clamped thereto along one edge, said jawmember being apertured and having integral tongues extending from theedge of said aperture away from the clamped edge of the jaw membertoward said clamped edge, said tongues having perforations thereinadapted to receive the said projections on the body portions.

4. Acheck-punch, comprising a body member of thin sheet metal having oneedge portion doubled upon itself, and a jaw member also of sheet metaland having one edge riveted between the doubled portion of the bodymember, said jaw member being centrally apertured and having integraltongues extending from the edge of said aperture away from the rivetededge of the jaw member toward said riveted edge and lying at their freeends beneath the doubled portion of the body member, said tongues havingperforations therein and the body member having elevations orprojections forced up out of itself and adapted to register with saidperforations in the tongues.

5. Acheck-punch,comprisingasheet-metal body member having one edgeportion doubled upon itself and a jaw member of resilient sheet metalhaving one edge firmly clamped between the doubled portion of the bodymember, said jaw member being apertured and having integral tonguesextending from the edge of said aperture away from the clamped edge ofthe jaw member toward said clamped edge, said tongues havingperforations therein and the body member having elevations orprojections adapted to register with said perforations in the tongues.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this26th day of October, 1901.

GEORGE M. MERRITT.

Witnesses:

RUSSELL M. EVERETT, C. B. PITNEY.

